HP
304 Contemporary Preservation Planning and Policy Seminar

Spring 2013- Syllabus

Tuesdays from 1:00 –
3:45, Wheeler House Room 101

Prof. Thomas Visser
Contact: Thomas.Visser@uvm.edu

http://www.uvm.edu/histpres/304/HP304syllabus2013.html

Course
description

This seminar explores contemporary preservation policy and planning issues through readings and seminars. Course goals
include addressing such questions as: What is the history of preservation in
the United States and elsewhere in the world? How has preservation theory
evolved and where is it headed? Why preserve? What are some of the most common and most
difficult contemporary preservation challenges and issues? What preservation policy and planning strategies are effective and appropriate? How are preservation policy and planning goals addressed by professionals in the field? How can we be effective preservation
leaders?

Expectations

Students are expected to attend all classes unless excused by in advance. Use of cellphones, texting, e-mail, and web surfing should not be done during classes. All students are expected to do individual work and each will be graded separately. Written assignments should be submitted at the beginning of class. All written assignments should be done on a computer and be double-spaced. Multiple page submissions should be bound together. It is expected that all assignments will be submitted on time. Late work will automatically be penalized unless arrangements are made with the professor in advance. Extensions are only granted for serious reasons beyond the control of the student.

The
assigned readings for this seminar are excerpts from a variety of books and
articles selected to provide an overview of the history and theory of the
preservation movement in the United States while supplementing the policy and
planning topics that will be discussed in class. All students are expected to
complete the readings before class and to be prepared to discuss them in class. Also the online syllabus provides web links to the speakers' organizations.

The core readings are James Marston Fitch, Historic Preservation, and Robert Stipe, A Richer Heritage. Historic Preservation in the Twenty-First Century. These are supplemented by excerpts from works by Charles Hosmer, James Glass and Dolores Hayden and various articles. Several copies these supplemental readings are on reserve in the Historic Preservation Library in Room 103, Wheeler House. These should remain in Wheeler House. The Stipe book is the core text and since it is still in print, it should be purchased independently, as well as may the Grantsmanship Center's booklet. The Hayden books are also still in print and may be purchased independently if desired. The Hosmer and Glass readings are out of print.

The syllabus also lists links to web sites and articles for review, which should be browsed before class, and resources, which are sources of additional information on the topics.

Readings: Robert E. Stipe, A Richer Heritage. Chapter 12: "The Social and Ethnic Dimensions of Historic Preservation."
Toni Lee, Cultural Diversity in Historic Preservation: Where We Have Been, Where We Are Going," Forum Journal, Fall 2012, 20.

Readings: Robert E. Stipe, A Richer Heritage. Chapter 3, "The States: The Backbone of Preservation;" and Chapter 4, "Local Government Programs: Preservation Where It Counts.Carol Shull, "The Future of the National Register," Forum Journal, Fall 2012, 5.

Assignments will be due by the start of class on the following dates. Late submittals and missed classes will be penalized unless arrangements are made ahead and are due to circumstances beyond a student’s control.

Assignment 1 - Preservation Policy and Planning Field Research Project: Select a preservation policy or preservation planning initiative to research. This could be a planning project or a preservation program for a community, neighborhood or site. Research the history of the project or program, then study the actually place and/or interview people involved with the project or program. Alternatively, one could attend a professional conference or workshop where preservation policy or planning research is presented and interview people involved with the project or program.

a. Research Project Proposal: Each student should submit a written proposal (1 to 3 pages) for their policy and planning research project. Identify the research topic and the specific preservation planning project(s) or preservation advocacy program(s) that you will research. This could be a planning project or program for a community, neighborhood or site located anywhere that you can visit during the semester –possibly over the Spring Recess. Research the history of the project or program, then study the actually place and interview people involved with the project or program. The proposal should be written in the form of a professional business letter addressed to the professor. Although due by the date listed in the syllabus schedule, the Research Project Proposal may be submitted in advance after the first week of classes.

b. Travel Grant Application: If a travel grant is to be requested to support the field research project, include in the proposal an anticipated travel itinerary and identify the places, preservation organizations, and individuals to be contacted. Travel grants of up to $600 for allowable expenses may be applied for to support this research. Allowable expenses may include conference fees. According to University and federal policies, these research travel grants will be considered scholarships and will be processed according to University accounting procedures discussed at http://www.uvm.edu/policies/acct/scholarships.pdf and http://www.uvm.edu/policies/acct/scholarfaq.htmAlso, transportation and accommodation expenses may be allowed if the place chosen for study is at least 100 miles away from Burlington and if the travel is done only for this research project. Meals, beverages and supplies will not be reimbursed.A set of written guidelines are posted on the web at http://www.uvm.edu/histpres/tripgrants.html. All travel and lodging arrangements and liabilities are the responsibility of each student. Travel arrangements must not conflict with any scheduled classes or teaching assistantship responsibilities. This grant application may be submitted with the Research Project Proposal in advance after the first week of classes.

c. Travel Grant Completion Reports: Completion reports are required to be submitted to the professor for all travel grant recipients within one week of return from travel. These will then be reviewed and forwarded with a request to initiate payments through the University of Vermont as scholarships. This process of review for possible scholarship reimbursement may take a month or more. If completion reports are not submitted by two weeks before the last class in the semester, the grant will be forfeited. The following information is to be included in the grant report:

1. A letter of acknowledgement
2. The actual travel itinerary including names and addresses of the conferences or training workshops attended, preservation organizations visited, preservation professionals interviewed, preservation activities observed, and research conducted
3. An expense accounting on a travel form that meets the requirements of the UVM Accounting Department with original receipts attached for all reimbursable expenses

d. Research Project Presentation:Each student will be responsible for a 20 minute presentation that summarizes the findings of their research accompanied by visual documentation materials. Each student will also be responsible for leading a seminar discussion of about 20 minutes after their formal presentation.

e. Research Report: The preservation policy and planning research report should include a narrative of about twenty pages (about 5000 words) of text, permanently bound with a cover, title page, table of contents, page numbers, footnotes, illustrations with numbered captions, and sources. Prepare a report that summarizes your research on a preservation planning project or a program or a policy initiative and evaluate its strengths and weaknesses, challenges and successes. Discuss the conditions, goals and challenges that the project or program or initiative has faced. How has it been structured, funded and staffed? Is (or was) it intended to be sustainable? What evidence is there of the impacts of the project or program or initiative? Relate your analysis and assessment to the preservation policy and planning themes included in the course readings and seminar discussions. This report is intended to bolster your portfolio of preservation research projects.

Assignment 2 - Preservation Policy and Planning Public Meetings. Each student should attend at least one local public meeting or hearing where preservation plans, reviews or issues will be addressed. This could be a meeting of a local design review board, a historic preservation review board, a planning commission, a development review board, a state advisory council meeting or a state environmental district (Act 250) hearing. As public meetings are sometimes postponed or cancelled with little notice, the meeting should be attended at least two weeks before the assignment due date.

a. Public Meeting Proposal:Submit a brief written proposal (1 pages) that describes the local public meeting or hearing that you will attend where you expect preservation plans, reviews or issues to be addressed

b. Public Meeting Report: Submit your own factual written report on the meeting in a format suitable for publication in a newspaper or newsletter. In a separate section, also write an analysis and commentary on the preservation policy issues addressed and on effectiveness of the meeting procedures and presentations. (3-5 pages).

Fitch, James Marston. Historic Preservation. Curatorial Management of the Built World. Charlottesville, VA: University of Virginia Press, 1990. Originally published in 1982.

Stipe, Robert E., A Richer Heritage. Historic Preservation in the Twenty First Century. Chapel Hill, North Carolina: the University of North Carolina Press, 2003.

Other Readings on Reserve

Forum Journal, Vol. 27, No.1, Fall 2012

Glass, James. The Beginnings of a New National Historic Preservation Program. 1957-1969. Foreword by Charles B. Hosmer, Jr. Nashville, TN: American Association for State and Local History, 1990.

Hosmer, Charles B., Jr. Presence of the Past. A History of the Preservation Movement in the United States Before Williamsburg. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1965.

Hosmer, Charles B., Jr. Preservation Comes of Age: From Williamsburg to the National Trust (1926-1949). Vols. 1 and 2. Charlottesville, VA: University Press of Virginia for the Preservation Press, 1981.